Baby, Come Back by Erica Spindler Read Free Book Online

sometime?”
    â€œI’d like that,” she said softly. “I’d like it a lot.”
    A momentary silence fell between them. Sheri filled it. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me,” she said again, frowning. “We’ve seen each other since then. A bunch of times.”
    She didn’t have an excuse for not telling Sheri, Alice realized. Not a good one. Sheri didn’t trust easily, the bond they’d formed was extremely fragile. And keeping this information from her—even though harmlessly intended—had shaken that trust.
    Guilt plucked at her. She hadn’t wanted to share her feelings. She hadn’t wanted the girl to know how much she had loved Hayes or how badly he’d hurt her. And she wouldn’t have been able to hide it.
    She hadn’t been fair. She asked Sheri to share everything with her. She insisted to the girl that they had a mutually trusting relationship. She realized that wasn’t completely true. And the hell of it was, Sheri probably realized it, too.
    â€œWould you mind if we talked about it later?”
    Sheri shrugged and looked away. “I guess.”
    â€œThanks. And, Sheri?” The girl met her eyes once more. “I’m not your father and you don’t have to sneak around with me. Our guests call at the front door.”
    The girl colored. “Yes, ma’am.”
    â€œAnd speaking of fathers...” Alice turned to Jeff. “Does yours know where you are?” When Jeff shook his head, she arched her eyebrows in question. “Are you going to call him or should I? He has a right to know where you are. I’m sure he’s worried sick.”
    His expression tight, Jeff climbed off the bed. “He’s my father—I’ll call.”
    â€œYou can use the phone in the kitchen. Sheri—” she turned to her young charge “—slip into a robe and come on out. I’ll retire so you and Jeff can visit in the living room.”
    In the end, they all sat in the living room, talking and listening to the Cajun music that Alice loved. Jeff’s call to Hayes was short and, from what Alice inadvertently overheard, terse. When he reappeared in the living room, his tight expression testified to the fact that the call had not gone well.
    Sheri looked at Jeff nervously. “Everything okay?” she asked, making room for him beside her on the couch.
    â€œYeah,” he answered, shrugging with what seemed to Alice to be forced negligence. “No sweat.”
    An hour later, Alice discovered her instincts had been correct. The call had not gone well, and everything was certainly not okay. Hayes stood on her front porch, looking ready to explode.
    After darting a quick glance toward the living room and the teenagers, Alice slipped outside, softly shutting the door behind her. She leaned against it and tipped her head back to meet his eyes. “Don’t do this, Hayes.”
    â€œDon’t do what?” he snapped. “I’ve come for my son. That’s all.”
    â€œI know.” She felt his anger and frustration as an almost palpable thing. It crackled in the air around them. She touched his sleeve lightly, attempting to reassure, to calm. “You’re upset. So is he. If you go in there now, you’re both going to say things you’ll regret.”
    â€œI didn’t know where the hell he was. All day, Alice. And after the way he left, the mood he was in...I was afraid ...I thought maybe he’d been...” He choked the words, the thought, back, his mouth tightening. “Dammit to hell. Anything could have happened.”
    â€œI know how you must have felt. How you must feel still.” She moved her fingers rhythmically across his arm, stroking, soothing. He hadn’t taken the time to put on a coat, and his cashmere sweater was soft under her fingers, his flesh beneath the fabric hard and warm. Realizing what she was doing, she dropped